How's the size of Tampa port compared to Port Canaveral?

[Delta Dear]

We cruised RCI out of Port Canaveral last year. We are cruising out of Tampa in Feb. How do the ports compare in size ? How about the amount of walking involved ? We are on Carnival from Tampa this time.

[teemsum]

We were on the C Legend last September.

 

It was great. The terminal is right at Channelside. It was easy to walk in but then there's a huge line to check in. Too bad they don't provide entertainment like Disney.

 

 

Cruisingly Yours

[snowbird1]

Tampa is a very easy place to cruise out of, maybe easier than Port C.

[Capt_BJ]

there's really two answers here. One, the answer to the question you ask and the other the answer to the question I think you meant to ask.

 

The port of Tampa is physically and in terms of overall business much larger than PC; by square foot it claims to be the largest port in Florida. There's much more commercial traffic, and several large ship building and repair facilities in the Port of Tampa...PC has virtually no container traffic for example. The amount of cruise ship traffic is not as large as PC however, and the main cruise terminals are about the same or maybe a bit smaller physically.

 

http://www.tampaport.com/

 

http://www.portcanaveral.com/index2.php

 

Tampa would like to grow its cruise business but lacks the overnite reachable destination that PC, Port Everglades/Lauderdale and POM enjoy.

 

Port of Tampa does enjoy proximity to Tampa Airport however, while Orlando International is almost an hour from PC. In reality tho, the drive from Orlando to PC is SO easy - a straight shot - that the trip is almost equal in time depending on Tampa traffic!

[kathiean]

As a resident of the Tampa Bay area, I can tell you that the Port of Tampa has MUCH LESS walking than Port Canaveral (I have cruised out of PC and Tampa many times). The drive from Tampa Airport to the Port of Tampa is 10 minutes tops, while the drive from Orlando airport to PC is an hour. Rush hour may add a bit of time, but not all that much as it is so close. You will love the Port of Tampa. Enjoy!